Dive Brief:
- Employment experts predict a "perfect storm" of unfilled employment needs within the global electronics supply chain in coming years, EBN reported, an issue that will require senior management to address.
- Although high wages — managers make on average $79,000 annually — and strong job satisfaction levels are consistently cited by individuals already working within the field, awareness and interest on the part of potential staff remains low.
- A variety of soft and hard skills are needed within the industry, ranging from data capture and analysis skills to critical thinking as well as driving and managing change abilities.
Dive Insight:
The growing number of open jobs left by retiring baby boomers within the supply chain must spur employers to cast a wide net in seeking out replacements. Whether through recruiting agencies, job fairs, trade school program funding, or simply ongoing "help wanted" ads in creative locations, the onus is on the company to seek out fresh talent.
One new program in Kentucky is showing promise. KentuckianaWorks is an employment group that supplies education and training courses which ultimately pairs students and employers. Training is fast and thorough, as evidenced by a former auto mechanic, who quickly moved into tool repair after a five-week program and now has a full-time job in manufacturing.
J.B. Hunt Trucking has also found a way to source future staff. Through a $2.75 million investment in the Center for Excellence at the University of Arkansas, the Center will pair engineering, computer science, and business research students with J.B. Hunt employees. J.B. Hunt is banking on gaining fresh solutions throughout its supply chain as result.
